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Motown Historical Museum Inc

EIN 38-2614561 · Detroit, MI

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceFair55 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION COLLECTS DOCUMENTS, OBJECTS, PICTURES, CLOTHING, AND ARTIFACTS WHICH DEPICT AND DEMONSTRATE THE HISTORY, AND PRESERVE THE LEGACY AND TRADITION, OF A MUSICAL ERA FOR DISPLAY TO THE PUBLIC.

Income
$13.8 million
Spending
$7.5 million
Spent on programs
50%
Reserves
-0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 32%
Employees
51
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$110,250, chair

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 46% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 52% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    50% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 18 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $1.9 million spent. MOTOWN MUSEUM ENGAGES VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD IN AN EXPERIENTIAL AND EDUCATIONAL CELEBRATION OF THE ICONIC MOTOWN LEGACY AND ITS CULTURAL, SOCIAL AND HISTORICAL IMPACT. WE PROTECT AND PRESERVE HITSVILLE U.S.A. - THE BIRTHPLACE OF MOTOWN RECORDS TO DOCUMENT THE HUMBLE BEGINNINGS OF THE ARTISTS' COLLECTIVE CONTRIBUTION TO MUSIC THAT REVOLUTIONIZED AN INDUSTRY.
  2. $1.0 million spent. THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES A SOUVENIR SHOP TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTS, OBJECTS, PICTURES, CLOTHING, AND ARTIFACTS WHICH DEPICT AND DEMONSTRATE THE HISTORY, AND PRESERVE THE LEGACY AND TRADITION, OF A MUSICAL ERA FOR DISPLAY TO THE PUBLIC.
  3. $783,965 spent. MOTOWN PROVIDES VARIOUS PROGRAMS TO ENGAGE OUR YOUTH IN THE HISTORY AND STORY THAT IS MOTOWN. THIS INCLUDES TWO SUMMER PROGRAMS, ONE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND A SECOND FOR MIDDLE STUDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION, A MOTOWN MIC SPOKEN WORD COMPETITION AND AMPLIFY, THE SECOND OF DETROIT, WHICH SEEKS TO BUILD ON THE RICH LEGACY OF MOTOWN, CELEBRATE THE UNIQUE VOICES OF DETROIT AND THE CREATIVE SYNERGY OF THE ARTISTS PAST, PRESENT, AND EMERGING.
  4. THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES A SOUVENIR SHOP TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTS, OBJECTS,PICTURES, CLOTHING, AND ARTIFACTS WHICH DEPICT AND DEMONSTRATE THE HISTORY,AND PRESERVE THE LEGACY AND TRADITION, OF A MUSICAL ERA FOR DISPLAY TO THE PUBLIC.
  5. THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES A SOUVENIR SHOP TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTS, OBJECTS,PICTURES, CLOTHING, AND ARTIFACTS WHICH DEPICT AND DEMONSTRATE THE HISTORY,AND PRESERVE THE LEGACY AND TRADITION, OF A MUSICAL ERA FOR DISPLAY TO THE PUBLIC.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1987.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.